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Doddridge County's Lexie Lamb signs with West Virginia University track & field, cross country
Blue Gold News

Doddridge County's Lexie Lamb signs with West Virginia University track & field, cross country

  • by Michael Minnich Sports Editor

WEST UNION, W.Va. (WV News) — After making the trip over on Route 50 to Clarksburg and then up I-79 to Morgantown, Doddridge County’s Lexie Lamb was feeling a little anxious about her recruiting trip to West Virginia University.

“I was nervous going into it. I didn’t think I would find my place that easily. But after I went on an unofficial visit, it was really easy for me to see that West Virginia was my place,” Lamb said.

It’ll be her place for at least the next four years as Lamb signed a letter-of-intent to join the Mountaineers’ cross country and track & field programs after wrapping her Bulldog career this spring.

“I’ve always been a little biased between wanting to be a Mountaineer. One of my biggest role models, Clara Grandt (Santucci), helps coach there. She reached out to me and we got an unofficial visit,” Lamb said.

“Then, I met coach (Sean) Cleary and we had an 8-hour conversation. We met in a coffee shop. I made my goals really clear to him. He knows how to get me to my end destination.”

That destination?

“Hopefully, the Olympics. He knows as an athlete what I need. He’s an amazing coach,” Lamb said. “I don’t think West Virginia really gets enough recognition in athletics as it should. WVU has an amazing track and cross country team. I’m really excited.”

Lamb plans to major in forensic pathology.

She won the Class A state cross country championship as a junior, helping the Bulldogs to the top of the podium as a team.

She placed third individually as a senior and ninth as a sophomore, in both cases for second-place teams.

On the track, she was the state runner-up in the 800, 1600 and 3200 meter runs in both 2021 and 2022.

She was part of a second-place 4x400 meter relay as a junior and a fifth-place finish in the event as a sophomore.

Last year, Lamb scored 26 points to finish fourth overall individually in Class A; she was third with 24.5 points as a sophomore.

Doddridge County was second as a team in both of those seasons in track & field.

She credits her mentors at DCHS for helping her quickly develop a love for the sport.

“The coaches have made running so much more fun. Coach (Josh) Weekley and coach (Craig) Kellar are amazing role models. They work really hard to make the team as good as it is. I couldn’t think them enough. I appreciate everything,” Lamb said.

Grandt Santucci, the director of operations for WVU, starred for the Bulldogs, earning all-state honors all four years in cross country in the fall and setting state records in the 1600 and 3200 meter runs and helping DCHS to three state track & field titles in the spring.

She went on to a Hall of Fame career with the Mountaineers, earning three All-America honors in 2010 alone.

“Clara helped me a lot with the recruiting process. It was really easy,” Lamb said. “She explained everything. I was actually on a visit with (Preston’s) Allie Martin and we switched into different cars and went a few different places on campus. All of the facilities are really nice.”

Familiarity with teammates as well as coaches also helped clear the path for the Mountaineers to land Lamb.

“I know a lot of the girls on the team. I’m excited to run with (Hurricane senior) Audrey Hall. We went to camp together,” Lamb said. “It just feels like the right place.”

One of those teammates will be All-American Ceili McCabe.

“I’m so excited. We’ve talked a few times and it’s easy for me to see that she’s really determined and passionate about running. She is not only an amazing runner, but she’s an amazing person, so I feel like I can learn a lot,” Lamb said.

Lamb’s journey started during the height of the COVID-19 isolation and pandemic, which axed her freshman sports season.

“I was kind of bored and I wanted to stay in shape for softball and basketball. I just started running and then, one day, I just thought, ‘You know, cross country might be fun.’ I went to practice one day and I just loved it,” Lamb said. “It’s pushed me a lot as a person and taught me discipline and other life morals.

“It’s changed my life for the better.”